West Virginia Judge Fines J & J $4.5M Over AG Complaint

WELLSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — State officials say a judge has fined health care products maker Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary nearly $4.5 million for sending misleading information to West Virginia physicians about two prescription drugs. Brooke County Circuit Judge Martin Gaughan sided with state Attorney General Darrell McGraw. Gaughan says the defendants sent brochures on the narcotic pain patch Duragesic that the Food and Drug Administration had twice warned contained false or misleading statements. In his Feb. 25 ruling, Gaughan also said the defendants' November 2003 letter on schizophrenia drug Risperdal intentionally modified the FDA's warning language and misled health care professionals. Johnson & Johnson says it's disappointed and will seek a new trial.